compare wood, aluminum, and fiberglass

[MOKI SEAKER]

I spend my camping time in the boondocks, lots of trees and rocks. I used FRP or filon, for the scratching that happens when you get squeezed by the brush, and rocks.( pin stripping by Sage ) I think alum would not take a beating by sage very well, and who could stand scratching the heck out of a woody in the buck brush. Just my thoughs. Jim G

[dwgriff1]

If we want to keep our teaers "perfect" we probably wouldn't take them out of the driveway. A certain amount of wear patina is the price of a well used tear.

Some finishes are easy to damage, and some are not. Mine is a combination of paint and wood. I can paint it for $10 and the wood can be renewed with a coat of marine varnish. If I punch a hole somewhere, it gets more complex.

Doing some work on the little darling is part of the fun of it all!

dave

[sems]

Thanks for more good ideas...

Here's what I'm thinking: If we go aluminum I'm willing to live with a less polished look. I was also thinking some more about Filon and fiberglass (excuse the newbie question, but is Filon a brand name of fiberglass?)

I had actually thought of the faux woodgrain that you see on the new "woodies" and thought that might be cool and easy to take care of.

Bruce what is on the sides of the second picture in your post (I haven't figured out yet how to copy a picture into a reply) It looks like wood, but is it fiberglass?

[Chaotica]

Bruce what is on the sides of the second picture in your post (I haven't figured out yet how to copy a picture into a reply) It looks like wood, but is it fiberglass?

If I'm not mistaken, it's fiberglass over wood.

[glassice]

i try to fix a few that had fiberglass over a inter wood that feel apart so i think you need to make sure that it water tigh

[bdosborn]

Bruce what is on the sides of the second picture in your post (I haven't figured out yet how to copy a picture into a reply) It looks like wood, but is it fiberglass?

That's Doug Hodder's Teardrop and its wood covered with epoxy. Then he shot it with an automotive clearcoat. He gave a seminar on it at the Redwoods gathering (that we missed ). My next trailer will be finished in a similar way. Steve Fredrick has a shop manual with step-by-step instructions on how to apply epoxy.
Bruce

[sems]

Thanks Bruce. I'm SLOWLY figuring this out. I really like Doug's td. I can't remember everyone's name, but there's another td on here with a green aluminum top and wood sides. It's a really nice look.

I guess it's marine grade plywood, right? I keep thinking about water damage to wood, but as someone pointed out on another thread, boats are made of wood too!

Susan

[Nitetimes]

I can't remember everyone's name, but there's another td on here with a green aluminum top and wood sides. It's a really nice look.
Susan

That would be Len's Slumber Coach.

[asianflava]

One thing that may be causing confusion. Fiberglass and epoxy are not the same thing. If something has an epoxy coating on it, it isn't technically fibreglassed. Fiberglass is the cloth that strengthens the epoxy. It performs the same function as wire mesh and rebar in a concrete slab. The concrete (like the epoxy) is brittle, the fiberglass cloth (or kevlar, carbon fiber, etc) is what gives the strength.

One big difference between Doug's and Steve's trailers is that Steve uses glass cloth and epoxy on the outside whereas Doug uses epoxy and automotive clearcoat.

[doug hodder]

Susan...the finish treatment that I've done on my tear is typical for a wooden boat deck finished "bright". I did use a marine grade mohagany ply as an overlay on the sides, but what adds to the color is the aniline dye. doug

[sems]

Last question (maybe) on this topic...

Who is Steve and how do I find a picture of his tear? Thanks! Susan

[bdosborn]

Last question (maybe) on this topic...

Who is Steve and how do I find a picture of his tear? Thanks! Susan

http://www.steve-frederick.com/intro

Bruce

[sems]

Thanks!